You’re finally engaged to the love of your life and are in the process of planning your big day. You’ve got the cake tastings lined up, you’ve got your wedding planner booked(we can help with that!) , you’ve selected the perfect venue and all the other small details are coming together. YAY! But, don’t overlook one of the most significant parts of your wedding day- the moment when you make your vows to your future spouse! It’s the highlight of your ceremony and seals the deal to make you husband and wife.
We know lots of couples who are considering writing their own vows. It’s important to many of them to personalize things and make their ceremony more intimate and unique. Writing your vows is an amazing way to do just that. It can set the tone for your entire ceremony and is such a touching way to express your commitment to one another.
If you’ve decided to write your own vows we’ve put together some tips that we think will help take the stress and intimidation away from the writing process.
Photos by Honeybee Memory
Create an Outline
The very first step is creating an outline. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy but just take some time in the beginning to start jotting down some ideas.
If you’re having trouble starting from scratch we’ve got a template lower down for you to follow. For those of you who are up to brainstorming, this stage is for you to begin drafting what it is you want to say. Writing down must have words, nicknames or quotes is a great way to create a foundation that you can build on through your writing process.
You decide on the content, creativity and characteristics that want to be included in your commitments. That’s the beauty of writing your own vows! You can make it truly personal and a reflection of your relationship with your other half.
Speak with your Partner
We also recommend sitting down with your partner prior to your final draft and deciding on how long you both want your vows to be, any promises that you both would like to see included, and just to be sure you are meeting any expectations from your other half!
Finding time to talk about your vows ensures that you’re both on the same page and can agree on the general length and tone.
Maybe you prefer to make your vows more light-hearted and humorous while your future spouse would like more serious and traditional vows to be read. Now is the perfect time to decide.
Chatting with each other in the beginning stages will help to create a truly seamless vow exchange during your ceremony. Communication is always key!
Start Early!
Don’t wait until the week of your big day to start writing your vows! You will definitely want to give yourself the time to write, rewrite, revise and finalize your promises to each other. Trust us- starting on writing your vows early on in your wedding planning process will give you lots of time to note down all those special moments.
You’ll want plenty of time to think about all those sweet memories in your relationship that you may want to include.
Starting early will make you feel that you’ve really given it your all and have created meaningful vows that you truly mean and are proud to speak to the love of your life.
Give it the attention it deserves- you and your partner will appreciate it when you look back for years to come!
Photos by Andrea Rose Photography
Practice Reading Them Out Loud
This goes along with starting early! Practice reading your vows aloud to help take some of the nerves away before saying it on your wedding day to your beloved and in front of all your guests.
Practicing your vows also allows you a chance to feel the flow of your sentences and catch any things that aren’t quite conveying what it is you meant to say.
By reciting your vows prior to the ceremony, you will feel more confident and prepared to speak your promises out loud by knowing that you’ve said it multiple times to yourself.
There’s also no need to put any added pressure on yourself to memorize your vows. It can increase your nervousness and add to your stress. You do not want that!
Remember, you can always have a handwritten copy of your vows with you at the altar. Handwritten vows can be a beautiful keepsake that you can cherish for years to come.
Photos by Andrea Rose Photography
Adopt the Beginning, Middle, and End Strategy
Read all our tips but still feeling stuck? Don’t Worry! Below you’ll find a super easy breakdown on how your vows should generally go. There’s always a beginning, middle and end to every story and writing vows is no different!
Follow this easy format to help you craft your vows.
Wedding Vows Guideline
Beginning:
Start with how you and your partner met and when you realized they were the one.
Middle:
What do you love most about your partner? What are some funny and touching traits you love about them? Go ahead and be as creative as you want.
End:
Finally the last part of your vows should include your promises and you expressing looking forward to starting your married life together
Photos by Rebecca Ashley Photography
Conclusion
The vows you make to one another is one of the most significant parts of your ceremony. You’ll be glad you went the route of personalizing your vows and have made your ceremony that more special and intimate.
By using some of the helpful tips above you will be sure to have an easier time with the writing process. You’ll find yourself looking forward to exchanging your vows and can look back on that special moment for years to come!
